Planning Commission recommends denial of a Rock Quarry application
By Paul Hall on Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – During the latest Union County Planning Department meeting this week, the Planning Commission made a motion to recommend denial of the Rock Quarry (Smejkal) application. The recommendation now gets sent to the Union County Commissioners which will conduct a public hearing to review the Planning Commission’s recommendation and possibly receive new evidence and testimony. New testimony at the Board of Commissioner’s hearing could result in a referral back to the Planning Commission.
A Rock Quarry above I-84 and the Grande Ronde River, about two miles from the City of La Grande, and one mile from the town of Perry has been proposed. James Smejkal of Banks, Oregon has applied to the Union County Planning Commission for developers to construct a rock quarry, crushing plant, and rail transport facility. Objections from citizens said there would be pollution from dust and noise from blasting.
